The Hindu Business Line : Visakha container terminal now handles foreign cargo

Kolkata, July 30 Visakha Container Terminal (VCT), Visakhapatnam port’s container terminal run by a joint venture company Visakha Container Terminal Pvt Ltd (VCTPL), has emerged for the first time as a transhipment port for handling cargo coming from one foreign port for despatch to another foreign port.

This has been possible because of the necessary notification issued by the Visakhapatnam Customs House permitting such operation.

“Lady Fatima”, a foreign flag feeder vessel, discharged 700 Bangladesh-bound containers at VCT a few days ago. The boxes were loaded in Colombo. At VCT, they were reloaded in a Chittagong-bound “Express Makalu” for a second round of discharge in the Bangladeshi port.

The whole operation was completed within less than a week, according to VCTPL sources.

Recognition

It might be noted that not all Indian ports have been favoured with the Customs notifications for acting as transhipment points for international traffic, i.e. traffic originating in one foreign port for despatches to another foreign port.

It goes to VCT’s credit that it has been recognised by the Customs as one suitable for undertaking the operation. Generally the country’s transhipment ports handle Indian cargo for transhipment.

VCT’s new status, along with its congestion-free situation, should attract more traffic to and from South East Asia and Far East, the sources observe.